Social Science Section 3 Flashcards
Being derived from Greek, what does “Anthropocene” translate to.
Human & New
When is the Anthropocene said to have started?
1950
T or F: The Anthropocene is an OFFICIAL geological epoch according to the IUGS
False
T or F: Our outputs today will effect the Earths climate for many Millenia
True
Without human intervention, the earth would be… Cooling or Warming?
Cooling
When did humans start burning fossil fuels in part of the industrial revolution
Late Eighteenth Century (~1790)
According to the chart on page 39, how much has the population grown from 1950 to Today (2010)?
~4 Billion, Over Double.
Who popularized the term “Great Acceleration”?
J.R. McNeil
If the Holocene is an Interglacial period, why are we not in another Ice age right now?
The Effects we are causing to the climate is warming it up.
When was the term “Anthropocene” first used?
Year 2000
Traces of what were found in sediment core samples in the 1950s?
The artificial element is plutonium-329
Who were the first 2, to used the term “Anthropocene in the year 2000?
Paul J. Cruten and Eugene F. Stoermer
IN what year did they start treating the Anthropocene as a geological epoch?
Mid-twentieth century
When was the so called “Great Acceleration”?
1950
Who popularized the image of Industrial Revolution?
British Writer Charles Dickens
What era was foundational to the Anthropocene?
1800 to 1050
Around what year did human activity alter the Earth System?
1950
Who labeled the changing that occurred during the “Great Acceleration” in 1950?
J.R. McNeill
When did humans start to interact with the Earth in a way that has never been seen before?
In the mid-twentieth century
Why is the 1950 unique to human history?
There’s data showing how quickly and greatly humans have transformed the natural world.
What year marked the start of technology?
1800
What is the IPCC?
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
What was one of the main causes of the “Great Acceleration”
The growing human population
What was the human population in 1780 and 1930?
In 1780 the population was less than 1 billion and in 1930 it was 2 billion
When did discussion of the Industrial Revolution begin?
The late eighteenth century
How high has the Atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide risen from 1750 to 2010?
It rose from around 270 to almost 390
Around what time did humans start to alter landscapes and built structures that are still here today?
Around 12,000 years ago
What is lowest layer of the atmosphere?
troposphere
Because of climate change, temperatures in the troposphere are rising or cooling?
rising
True or False? In the higher layers of the atmosphere, temperatures are cooling.
True (this is where the atmosphere is thinner)
Is it a problem that the temperature of the troposphere of the atmosphere is rising and the higher layers are cooling?
Yes because it could create instability
How thick is the troposphere?
about 7 miles
Who argued in the mid-nineteenth century that atmospheric water vapor and carbon dioxide could interact with solar rays to raise the Earth’s temperature?
Eunice Newton Foote (1819-88)
How are fossil fuels formed?
from the remains of living organisms from past geological epochs, and are stored in the earth from past geological epochs
What were steam engines powered by? (Hint: it had to be burnt in order to do so)
coal
What happens once fossil fuels are released in the atmosphere?
they serve as a greenhouse gases
What country is the largest producer of oil in 2022?
the United States (it produces 20.21 million barrels per day and share 20% of the world’s total oil production)
In what Iraqi city was oil discovered in 1927?
Kirkuk
According to U.S. sources of greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, what percentage of emissions are from fossil fuel combustion and therefore carbon dioxide?
72.6% CO2, 10.9% methane, nitrous oxide 7.1%, high-GWP gases 3.2%, and other CO2 6.2% (which is a total of 5,081 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent (CO2e))
What is black gold?
a popular term that references oil, its immense value, and the fact that it, like gold, must be extracted from the Earth even at the expense of theres’ freedom and economic viability
What is the United Nations (UN)?
an intergovernmental organization founded in 1945 in the wake of WWII with a continued aim of promoting peace, dignity, equality, and a healthy planet
True or False? According to the United Nations, it was reported that fossil fuels account for over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and almost 80% of CO2 emissions
False, it fossil fuels compromise almost 90% of CO2 emissions
What two gases are still greenhouse gases even though they aren’t produced by fossil fuels?
methane and nitrous oxide
What century did industrialization started?
19th century
Who cut down on greenhouse gas emissions?
The US and European Union
What dose Black gold Refer to?
oil
What did the Nations use their accumulated wealth for at the start of industrialization?
To build factories and industrial infrastructure.
Who has increased their greenhouse gas emissions?
China and India
How much of global green house emissions are from fossil fuels?
about 75%
What are carbon dioxide emissions?
(CO2) emissions are the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere over a period of time and area
Who is the world’s leading emitter?
China
What goods did colonies sent to power in Europe?
Food, cotton or oil were produced in colonies and sent to manufacture in Europe.
What is considered a developed country?
Due to its developments on modernization.
Between 1990 and 2017 about what was the max amount of kt co2 released?
6,000,000 kt of co2
Who are the top four emitters?
China, the US, the EU, and India
What does GDP stand for?
Gross Domestic Product
Between 1990 and 2017 about what was the least amount of kt co2 released?
4,500,000 kt of co2
What is GDP a marker of?
Wealth
What is the majority amount of co2 released for?
Energy
Why can’t India and China simply cub bemissions down like the US and EU?
Because they’re trying to base their societies on fossil fuels, and the rules are being changed, so they’re blamed for the emissions
What countries is global concentrated at and why?
Western countries because they benefited from industrialization for centuries.
What do methane, nitric oxide, and carbon dioxide all have in common?
all green house gases
What is the name of the energy source that contains oil, natural gas, and coal?
fossil fuels
True or False: The US and EU can cut global emissions alone sufficiently
False
What percentage of the global GPD does The U.S. and China account for?
42%
What is the United States GDP?
$22.94 Trillion
How much carbon dioxide does China emit in comparison to the US?
China emits about half as much as the US
What is China’s GDP?
$16.86T
How much did the kt of co2 emissions go down between 1990-2017
about 1,500,000 kt of co2 emissions
How much carbon dioxide does India emit in comparison to the US?
India emits about 1/7 of the carbon dioxide the US does
What’s India’s GDP?
$2.95T
How much CO2 emissions of Western nations has China produced since 1750?
about 1/4
T or F: media and social beliefs color people’s perception of the natural world
True
What is apart of the Triple Planetary Crisis?
Climate Change, Air Pollution, and Biodiversity loss
Loss of certain animals or plants is often related to…
Disruptions in local habitats
T or F: Human habitats are currently experiencing stress from the natural forces
True
Climate change threatens what of communities in regions where their livelihood depend on ecological conditions?
economical/ financial impact
The heat in Iran reached what deadly temperature?
150 degrees Fahrenheit
T or F: Fires are not harmful for human societies
False
What are two water-related things that are impactful for human societies in a negative way?
Floods and Droughts
What does Anthropocene mean
A term that describes a new era in climate history that recognizes the central role of humankind in geology
What places have abnormally severe fires in the recent years?
Greece, Australia, California, Canada, and Hawaii
True or False: Climate change can cause financial demise?
True
True or False: Dry and Windy Temperatures do NOT amplify dry and windy conditions?
False
What are some things that dry and windy conditions do?
fuel fires and spread them
Can human activities impact whether or not a fire will occur?
yes
What contributes to flood risk?
rain and snow melting
How much more often do high-tide flooding occur then 50 years ago?
300% to more than 900%
How many Americans move from their home due to extreme weather events each year.
Approx 30 million
True or False: Climate change doesn’t psychologically affect humans?
False
Warmer temperatures can only result in more water migrating to the atmosphere if..
The temperature is over large bodies of water
What else can warmer temperatures over large water bodies do?
Increase Precipitation
